Dr. Peter Lamont who recently received a grant to study why
magic is often relegated to being for children is featured in a
Sunday Herald article that quotes Genevieve Warwick, "It would seem
there is a desire to relegate magic into a pleasant fantasy land for
children where it can be side-lined and its power somehow diminished
by co-opting it out of the adult world." Lamont explained, "Five
hundred years ago most people would have believed in genuine magic…
The rise of the modern West was, in some ways, a war against magic
because science tried to explain everything." There will be a
conference titled Magic presented at the Glasgow University on Jul.
9-11. To read the Jul. 7 article by Ann Donald "Magic's Moment"
click: HERE.(7/8)

The new book, "52 Ways To Magic America," by James Flint is
reviewed in the Sunday Herald where the describe it's basis, "The
novel tells how young Marty Quick takes up card tricks and
illusions, mostly as a way of attracting the attention of pretty
girls and avoiding the attention of rougher boys, and eventually
turns into Martin Mystery." To read the Jul. 7 review by Ron Butlin
titled "Illusions and delusions" click:
HERE.(7/8)

Penn & Teller's new two-year contract at the Rio is explained
in a Las Vegas Review-Journal where Penn Jillette comments about how
Vegas is changing and why they decided to settle in one place for a
while. To read the Jul. 7 article by Mike Weatherford titled "Comedy
duo at home in 'New Vegas'" click:
HERE.(7/8)

The winners of the SAM magic competitions held in New York City on
Jul. 3-6 were: Close-Up: Oscar Munoz (Chairperson's Award for highest score
and $1000), Francis Menotti (second highest score and $500), Oscar Munoz
(Jim Zee Award for Close-Up Magic and Jim Zee table), and John George
(People's Choice Award and $500). Stage competition winners were: Torkova
(Silver Medal and $1,500), Eun Gyoel Lee (Second Highest Score and $500),
John Cassidy (Mystic Craig Award), Bravo Nakaya (Seabrooke Red Seal Award
for Comedy), and Eun Gyoel Lee (People's Choice Award and $500). Junior
Stage winners were: Sumire Fujiyama (Chairpersons Award for Highest Score
and $300), Gerald Rojo II (Genii Award and $300). Other sponsored awards
were won by: Torkova (The Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser Award for Classic Magic),
Eun Gyoel Lee (The SAM Centennial Award with FISM Sponsorship), and Gerald
Rojo II (Japan SAM 2003 Convention booking). It is also worth noting that
all attendees were winners. How often can you see David Copperfield, David
Blaine, Mark Wilson, Paul Daniels, and Silvan all at the same event? The
attendees were a literal whose who in magic.(7/9)

Typhoon Lou (Lou Marin) and his show is featured in the
Orlando Sentinel where they give a brief history of the performer
and his Masters of Magic theater. To read the Jul. 6 article by Aline Mendelsohn titled "No allusions about magic: It's real
theater" click:
HERE.(7/9)

David Copperfield will stop over in Taiwan, on his way to
China, to sign an autograph for Hsiang Hsiang. According to the
Taipei Times, "…he [Copperfield] will sign an autograph for a
Taiwanese girl whom he reportedly promised to do so during a
performance in Taiwan about 15 years ago, according to the local
Chinese-language media. She was unable to get his autograph after
the performance at the time, but Copperfield reportedly remembered
his promise and asked the organizers of his Taiwan event to search
for the girl over the Internet in April. His organizers claim that
they have now found her, according to the media reports." To read
the Jul. 8 article titled "David Copperfield to stop over for an
emotional visit" click:
HERE.(7/9)

Steve Rodman, Infantino, and Larry Maples & Raven star in
"Magic Under the Stars" on Thursday Jul. 11 at 8pm at the JFK Middle
School (500 Broadway) in Bethpage, New York. The show is scheduled
to run around two hours and admission is free (bring your own chairs
or blankets). For driving directions phone: 516-483-9610.(7/9)

Marie
Blood (Houdini's niece) and David Copperfield get
last minute instructions prior to the unveiling of
the Houdini Stamp at the SAM convention in New York
City on Jul. 3, 2002. (Photo: MagicTimes). (7/9)

Scott
& Jenny Alexander in a LasVegas.com story that reported, "Think
about this. You and your wife are magicians, performing together in
one of the two theaters in Caesars Magical Empire. You come to work
one day and there, on the marquee of one of the best-known resorts
in the world, are your names." Jenny commented, "We were shocked… No
one had told us our names were going to be on the marquee. Can you
imagine how excited we were? The marquee. At Caesars Palace!" The
article also looks at their career, how they met and concludes, "But
remember their names. I predict that, in the not-too-distant future,
they'll be the first couple of magic with their own showroom on the
Strip." To read the Jun. 27 article by Len Butcher titled "Magic
Moment" click:
HERE.(7/10)

Paul Gertner is quoted in a Wall Street Journal article titled
"Sometimes Screening Can Be Magical." The article looks at people whose
professions force them to carry suspicious looking props through airport
security. Referring of Gertner's woes the article reported, "While he now
makes it a point to check his knives, other items that he packs in his
carry-on -- such as the steel ball bearings, magic wands and a
'weird-looking electrical device that makes cards fly into the air' -- often
require a demonstration." Gertner explained, "Now if you want to get on a
plane, you have to be willing to do a trick." The article by Jane Costello
appeared on page five of the Travel section of the Jul. 9 issue.(7/10)

Jamie O'Hare explained in an El Paso Times article. "People
love to pretend… That's why we read fantasy stories or mysteries.
That is why people read Stephen King or go see 'Lord of the Rings'
or 'Star Wars.'" The article also obsereved, "Magic is similar to
beauty; the attractiveness of a trick is in the eye of the
bewildered." To read the Jul. 9 article by Victor R. Martinez titled
"Magicians still mesmerize many" click:
HERE.(7/10)

David Copperfield's visit to Taiwan where he delivered an
autograph he promised 15 years ago is reported in the Taipei Times.
To read the Jul. 9 article by Chang Yu-jung titled "Magician keeps a
promise" click:
HERE.(7/10)

The
International Brotherhood of Magicians convention in San Diego, CA on Jul.
2-6 held a number of magic competitions and the big award, was the
occasionally given Gold Medal which went to Keiko Muto from Nagoya, Japan.
The rest of the winners were: Brian Ochab (1st place close-up), Rod Chow
(2nd place close-up), Keiko Muto (1st place stage), Derek Selinger (2nd
place stage), Danny Hill (1st place junior close-up), Chase Curtis (2nd
place junior close-up), Michael Barron Williams (1st place junior stage),
and Dan Sperry (2nd place junior stage). Derek Sellinger received the
People's Choice Award for his stage act. Next year's IBM Convention takes
place on Jul. 1-5, 2003 in Kansas City, MO.(7/11)

Maritess performs at the 4th Annual Bamboo Girl Zine
Benefit Party on Saturday Jul. 13 at 6pm. The event takes place at
the Asian American Writers' Workshop (16 West 32nd Street, Suite
10A) in New York City. Admission/donation is $10 per person. For
more information click: HERE.(7/11)

Joseph Harris who performed at the M.R. Dye Public Library in
Horn Lake is featured in a Go Memphis article that describes some of
the routines he does and the messages they convey. To read the Jul.
10 article by Talethia Steward titled "There's no trick to doing
right thing" click:
HERE.(7/11)

Fay Presto looses court case for riding an uninsured scooter
to her shows. An Ananova article reported that, "A High Court judge
ruled the electrically-assisted 'pedal cycle' is in fact a 'motor
vehicle' not exempt from the legal requirement to be insured on the
roads." To read the Jul. 10 article titled "Fay Presto fails in
rhinestone scooter court battle" click:
HERE.(7/11)

Alan
and Michele Watson received the annual Dragon Award on Jul. 4 at the SAM
Convention in New York City from the J. Marberger Stuart Foundation, Inc.
The Watsons have long been among the leading magicians in New Zealand. The
award was created to honor couples in magic that demonstrate outstanding
talent in the categories of Drama, Romance, Artistry, Glamour, Originality
and Necromancy (magic). The award was presented by Paul and Debbie Daniels
who were last year's winners. Past recipients include Harry and Gay
Blackstone, Mark Wilson and Nani Darnell, Johnny and Pam Thompson, Mike
Caveney and Tina Lenert, Peter and Coral Reveen, plus many other names you
would recognize.(7/12)

6-year old Eli Portala is described as having, "Houdini
magic, Fred Astaire moves, and Armani style" in a Toledo Blade
article that his father, magician Andrew Martin, "…was shocked when
Eli started experimenting with card tricks as a toddler. He never
expected Eli to share his interest in magic." Eli will perform at
the St. Georges Lebanese Festival in Toledo, OH on Saturday Jul. 13
at 3:15pm. To read the Jul. 11 article by Rachel Zinn titled
"6-year-old boy makes magic with style, flair" click:
HERE.(7/12)

Peter Matuska gets his wallet stolen while in Budapest,
Hungary. A Budapest Sun article quotes Matuska, "I have studied the
last 3,000 years of the history of magic and have been doing such
illusions for more than 20 years." To read the Jul. 11 article by
Tamás S. Kiss titled "Hollywood magician finds wallet vanished"
click:
HERE.(7/12)

NEW YORK: Jeff McBride presents his show and lecture on
Friday Jul. 19 at The Screening Room (3131 Sheridan Dr.) in
Buffalo. His show will be presented at 7:30pm with the lecture at
9:30pm. McBride will also present a special Secret Session on
Saturday the 20. For more information phone: 716-886-5653.(7/12)

Marie Hinson Blood who was part of the Houdini stamp
dedication in NYC is featured in a Messenger Post article that
reported, "The 84-year-old Greece woman was in New York City last
week to speak about her uncle during the unveiling of the stamp. The
stamp presentation was held Wednesday, July 3. It was part of the
week-long Society of American Magicians' 2002 Centennial
Convention." Blood said, "I never dreamed that I would still be here
when this stamp was presented. It's just so thrilling. I'm just so
happy I was able to live this long and after 84 years - finally I
see the Houdini stamp." To read the Jul. 11 article by Beth Emley
titled "Greece woman happy to see uncle on stamp" click:
HERE.(7/13)

Penn & Teller are featured in the Jul. 14-20 issue of Showbiz
Weekly where their current show at the Rio in Las Vegas is being
promoted. The article points out, "The vivacious and overtly
friendly twosome -- they meet and greet fans enthusiastically after
each show -- have become a favorite act at the Rio." To read the
article by Molly Brown titled "Tricks Of The Trade" click:
HERE.(7/13)

Glen David Gold's novel "Carter Beats the Devil" is one step
closer to becoming a movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter
Paramount-based C/W Prods. and filmmaker Robert Towne have just
hired Michael Arndt to adapt the book into a screenplay. To read the
Jul. 12 article titled "Scribe Arndt booked to meet 'Devil'" click:
HERE.(7/13)

Franz
Harary whose show "World of Illusion" is described as "largest
touring illusion show in the world" is currently appearing in
Bahrain with the supporting cast of The Gamesters and Extreme
Skaters. Harary spoke to the Bahrain Tribune Daily about the large
scale show, "I am constantly inventing new illusions and perfecting
them and the whole show is the result of teamwork… We are like a
finely-tuned jazz ensemble and depend on perfect timing and careful
execution of each one's work for the success of the act." He also
explained that, "…his acts are a combination of 'hi-tech and
psychology '80 per cent technology and 20 per cent psychology.'" The
show runs daily (5pm and 8:30pm) at the Grand Marquee Tent in
Bahrain Summer City. To read the Jul. 13 article titled "World of
Illusion set to dazzle visitors" click:
HERE.(7/14)